# 5 Gear Hacks to Save Money Climbing

> DIY climbing gear at home saves $183.
- Title: 5 Gear Hacks to Save Money Climbing · Climbing | Shortify
- Summary: DIY climbing gear at home saves $183. Climbers can make ice tool leashes, nut tool tethers, stick clips, stiffy draws, and rope tarps for under $5 each.
- Keywords: climbing, diy, ice tool leash, nut tool tether, stick clip, stiffy draw, rope tarp, sports, travel, Gear, Hacks, Save
- Source: Climbing — https://climbing.com/gear/save-money-make-this-climbing-gear-home
- Author: Corey Buhay
- Published: 2026-10-28T10:00:17+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: climbing, diy, ice tool leash, nut tool tether, stick clip, stiffy draw, rope tarp, sports, travel
## Ice Tool Leash
Climbers make a bungee-style ice tool leash for $5 instead of $39.95.

> Dropped tools are no joke. At Colorado’s ice parks, losing one will typically earn you a swim in a very frigid creek.
## Nut Tool Tether
Climbers make a nut tool tether for $5 instead of $17 using a keychain spring coil.

> Some nut tools come with integrated leashes. These don’t add a ton of cost to the tool, but they are boring as all get out.
## Stick Clip
Climbers make a stick clip for $25 instead of $94.95 using a painter’s pole.

> The cost of stick clips has always baffled me, especially since you can make one yourself with a tree branch, a small stick, and a bit of tape.
## Stiffy Draw
Climbers make a stiffy draw for $15 instead of $54.95 using heavy-duty wire.

> The internet said I could make one of these by stuffing a piece of webbing into a section of transparent vinyl tubing and tying carabiners to the ends.
## Rope Tarp
Climbers make a rope tarp for $4 instead of $24.95 using a plastic drop cloth.

> I found that heavy duty plastic shipping tape (especially the kind designed for long-term storage) sticks better than just about anything else.
## Total Savings
Climbers save $183 total by making five pieces of gear at home.

> With a single trip to the hardware store and a heap of old gear that’s been rotting in the trunk of my car, I was able to make five things, and saved $183 total.
## Key takeaway

Climbers can make ice tool leashes, nut tool tethers, stick clips, stiffy draws, and rope tarps for under $5 each.